Commuting to college every day has its pros and cons. As far as cons go, the main one for me would have to be time and money. To my displeasure I have been needing to fill up my gas tank twice a week. As far as time goes, I leave my house in Kaukauna around 8 am to drop my toddler off at daycare, and by the time I get to school it is 8:45. I can only imagine how much longer the commute will take during the winter with the inevitable backups on the highway. I feel like I am balancing a million things in my schedule, so ultimately I feel a bit overwhelmed at times. Also, being this far away from home has caused scheduling conflicts with work because I am too tight on time to go that day but thankfully my boss is understanding. Another con is that it is hard to feel part of at school because I cannot be as involved as students living on campus. I have duties at home that require my time and attention, so I am unable to attend as many student activities as most would.
Although my free time is cut a bit shorter, there are some pros to commuter life as well. I had mentioned that money spent on gas is a con, but on the flip side I do not have to pay for a meal plan or a dorm room. Yes, I am paying for rent and food at home making the money aspect even, but I can sleep and eat in the comfort and privacy of my home which means I also do not have to adjust to moving away from my family like the typical college student does and I have the privilege of feeling at home all of the time. Last but not least, in my opinion the food at school is pretty good, but I do appreciate the fact that I get to cook whatever I want to eat at home. The truth is, I do not have the option to stay on campus even if I wanted to. All that I can do is make the most of my circumstances and continue to look at the positives and towards my future.
